Abstract:

The purpose of this study was to explore the associations of polymorphisms of the CRBP4 gene with egg laying traits and egg quality and to find important markers for these traits of Huainan partridge chicken. The polymorphisms of CRBP4 gene were detected by PCR-SSCP and directly sequencing in 308 Huainan partridge chicken under cage condition. The association between mutation sites of CRBP4 gene and early egg laying traits and egg quality was analyzed. The results showed that, there were three mutations, C826T in the exon2, C1240T and A1241G in the exon3, respectively, and C826T and A1241G resulted in 49 Ser→49 Leu and 97 Ile→97 Val, respectively. The three sites belonged to moderate polymorphism. At the three sites, the population was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P>0.05). The mutation site of C826T was significantly associated with the egg weight at first laying (P<0.05). The CC genotype was positive for the egg weight at first laying. The haplotype combinations consisting of C826T, C1240T and A1241G was significantly associated with egg weight at first laying (P<0.05). The results indicate that the correlation is detected between different genotypes and haplotypes combinations and egg weight at first laying at the three sites.